Ford Transit
Decked out in trademark Performance Blue paintwork and with twin white stripes, Ford's Transit Sportvan sure looks quick. And the limited edition features a host of other racy styling tweaks, too.
it’s a pity Ford didn’t tweak the diesel engine in the new Sportvan, as it isn’t any faster than normal versions of the Transit. Still, with lots of extra standard kit and a decent driving experience, it provides plenty of appeal for van drivers.
The Sportvan wears 18-inch alloy wheels and low-profile tyres, and gets a body-coloured grille. Spoilers, side skirts and extended wheelarches enhance the purposeful look further, while there are even twin chrome exhaust pipes at the back.
However, under the surface things aren’t quite so sporty. The newcomer is based on a regular short-wheelbase, front-wheel-drive Transit 260, and is equipped with a 2.2-litre TDCi diesel.
The engine is hooked up to a five-speed manual gearbox, but unfortunately it hasn’t been uprated and still puts out the same 128bhp as the regular model. That’s a bit of a shame – we don’t think it would have been too much trouble for Ford to increase the turbocharger’s boost and extract at least another 20bhp.
Still, the Transit’s engine is smooth and torquey, and it offers gutsy performance. The steering is precise, but the high seating position, severely limited rearward visibility and bouncy ride mean it’s still obviously a van. And this is made worse by the low-profile tyres that are fitted, particularly when you’re not carrying a load in the vehicle. But in many ways, this special Transit is as easy to drive as a large people carrier.
And the Sportvan comes with as many goodies inside as most MPVs as well. You get leather seats, air-con, cruise control, heated mirrors, electric windows and tinted glass, plus rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights and a six-disc CD multichanger.
At nearly £19,000 it’s a bit on the expensive side. But bear in mind that with only 500 examples being produced, the Sportvan will be incredibly exclusive. Factor in the stack of useful extra equipment, and for small business owners looking to stand out, this Transit could be just the ticket.
Rival: Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive
Body-coloured bumpers and racy wheels set the Sportive apart from lesser Vivaros. But it looks reserved next to the Ford, and doesn’t come close in terms of standard spec.
